Financial Economics MA (Hons) 2018 entry

The MA (Hons) in Financial Economics provides a structured, cumulative and rigorous foundation of economic concepts, principles, analysis, techniques and knowledge. During your studies, you will develop your analytical and decision-making abilities through training in quantitative and model-based methods of analysis. Over the course of study, students engage with a number of specialist topics including portfolio management, asset pricing and corporate finance.

Financial Economics is studied up to Honours level in both the Faculty of Science (BSc) and the Faculty of Arts (MA). Students who have a background in the Arts or who wish to study Financial Economics alongside Arts subjects at St Andrews should apply for the MA. For those interested in studying Financial Economics alongside Science subjects, the BSc (Hons) in Financial Economicsmay be of interest.

Typical entry requirements

The following are likely grades considered for an offer. St Andrews considers all aspects of every application, including context, equivalent qualifications and the personal statement, and offers may be higher or lower than the grades stated here.

SQA Highers

AAAB

GCE A-Levels

AAA

IB points

38

For degrees combining more than one subject, the subject with the higher entry requirements determines the grades you need. You will also need to meet any further subject specific entrance requirements as outlined on their pages.

International applicants

If English is not your first language, you will need an overall IELTS score of 7.0, with a minimum score of 6.5 in each component (Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking), or an equivalent English Language qualification.

Do I need to have studied this subject before?

No, but advanced school mathematics is an advantage and an ability to learn mathematical skills is essential.

Faculty entry requirements

You must also meet the Faculty of Arts minimum qualifications. These vary depending on which qualifications you hold.

SQA qualifications

SQA National 5 (B or above) or equivalent in English and one SQA National 5 (B or above) from the following:

Biology

Chemistry

Computer Science or equivalent

Geography

Lifeskills Mathematics (A grade)

Mathematics

Physics

Psychology.

GCSE qualifications

GCSE (B or above) in English, English Language or English Literature, and one GCSE (B or above) from the following:

Biology

Chemistry

Computer Science or equivalent

Geography

Geology

Mathematics

Physics

Psychology.

Other qualifications

Passes in other examinations at equivalent levels and subjects may be accepted by the Dean of the Faculty. More information on how to apply via other entry routes or accreditation of prior learning and experience can be found on the University’s entry requirements webpage.

Timetables

St Andrews students must meet with their advisor at the beginning of Semester 1 in September to complete advising – a compulsory part of the matriculation process. After module choices have been decided, a timetable will be allocated indicating the dates and times of classes.

Reputation

The School of Economics and Finance at the University of St Andrews is known for bringing understanding and excitement from the latest cutting edge research into the teaching of undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes.

The quality of research publications produced by staff within the School was ranked in the top ten in the UK by the recent Research Excellence Framework 2014, with more than 80% of the research output rated as internationally excellent or world leading.

The University of St Andrews as a whole was voted top in the UK for student satisfaction in The National Student Survey 2017 as 94% of St Andrews final year students gave the University top marks for the quality of the learning and teaching experience.

In 2017, the University received a TEF Gold award for the quality of teaching and the undergraduate experience.

Course information

The MA (Hons) in Financial Economics is a four-year course run by the School of Economics and Finance. The School also offers a BSc in Financial Economics, which may be more suitable for students who wish to take Financial Economics alongside Science subjects. The Financial Economics element within both the BSc and MA degree programmes is exactly the same.

In the first two years, you will acquire a solid foundation in general knowledge of Economics. This includes an introduction to the principles of microeconomics and macroeconomics; an insight into quantitative techniques; and developing an understanding of economic relationships and the techniques necessary for their analysis.

Alongside Financial Economics, in the first year of your studies, you will be required to study an additional two subjects. In the second year you will usually carry on at least one of these subjects, sometimes two. Find out more about how academic years are organised.

At Honours level students may select modules from a range of options on specific topics. These provide an analytical understanding of key aspects of finance, economics and government policy formation.

The University of St Andrews operates on a flexible modular degree system by which degrees are obtained through the accumulation of credits. More information on the structure of the modules system can be found on the flexible degree structure webpage.

If you decide to take Financial Economics in your third and fourth years, you must take three compulsory modules:

Portfolio Management: develops knowledge and understanding of key issues in asset allocation and portfolio composition and management at an intermediate level.

Financial Economics: Asset Pricing: provides a rigorous grounding in the theory and applications of finance and a thorough synthesis of the most important current research in finance, with a particular emphasis on the applications of the principles.

Financial Economics: Corporate Finance: investigates the problem of how a collection of corporate liabilities is affected in value by corporate actions.

In addition, you may choose from a wide variety of advanced options. Here is a sample of Honours modules which have been offered in previous years:

Decision and Game Theory

Incentives and Contracts

Economic Fluctuations

International Trade

Economics of the Environment

Public Economics

Inequality and Redistribution

Economics of Development

Political Economy

Innovation Economics

Mathematical Economics

European Macroeconomics.

In fourth year, students may also undertake a dissertation or research project on a topic of their choice. This independent project enables you to develop key research skills which are desired by both prospective employers and by graduate schools offering postgraduate degrees.

The sub-honours modules listed here are the compulsory modules that students must take in order to graduate in this subject. However, most students at St Andrews take additional modules, either in their primary subject or from other subjects they are interested in. For Honours-level, students choose from a range of Honours modules, some of which are listed above. A full list of all modules available for the current academic year can be found in the module catalogue.

Teaching

Teaching format

First and second year modules generally involve a series of lectures (200 to 350 students), laboratories and small-group tutorials (15 to 20 students) designed to facilitate effective interaction.

At Honours level, modules are taught through lectures (10 to 140 students) and smaller group tutorials (10 to 20 students). Students typically attend seven to eight lectures and one to two tutorials or labs a week.

When not attending lectures, tutorials and workshops, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve:

working on individual and group projects

undertaking research in the library

preparing coursework assignments and presentations

preparing for examinations.

You will be taught by a research-led teaching team with expertise and knowledge of Financial Economics. Postgraduate research students who have undertaken teacher training may also contribute to the teaching of tutorials under the supervision of the module leader.

In addition to your studies in the School, optional academic support is availablethrough practical study skills courses and workshops hosted within the University.

The University’s student services team can help students with additional needs resulting from disabilities, long term medical conditions or learning disabilities. More information can be found on the students with disabilities webpage.

Assessment

Progress is monitored through tutorial assignments and assessment is by a combination of graded work and examinations. Almost all of the modules are assessed by at least 50% written exams with the balance of assessment made up by coursework.

Examinations are held at the end of each semester during a dedicated exam diet with revision time provided beforehand.

Coursework takes the form of essays, along with other kinds of assessed work including oral presentations and group projects.

The School of Economics and Finance provides feedback on every assessment, with a view to improving your performance in future, and aims to provide feedback on assessments and coursework within three weeks.

Undergraduates at the University of St Andrews must achieve at least 7.0 on the St Andrews 20-point grade scale to pass a module. To gain access to Honours-level modules, students must achieve the relevant requisites as specified in the policy on entry to Honours and in the relevant programme requirements. Please note that some Schools offer qualified entry to Honours, and this will be clearly specified in the programme requirements. To find out the classification equivalent of points, please visit the common reporting scale webpage.

Visit St Andrews

If you are interested in studying at St Andrews, join us at a visiting day to explore the town, find out about our courses and meet current students.

Funding and scholarships

Your future

Careers

The wide range of transferable skills you gain through studying Financial Economics is marketable in many career areas, and recent graduates in Financial Economics have pursued a wide variety of career paths.

Popular career destinations amongst recent graduates include:

the Government Economic Service

non-governmental organisations

OECD

investment

commercial and international banking

accountancy

consultancy

university research and teaching

the media.

You will find St Andrews Economics graduates at renowned financial institutions such as:

Accenture

Ernst & Young

JP Morgan

Barclays Capital

PriceWaterhouseCoopers

Citibank.

The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students to build their employability skills.

Study abroad

The University is delighted to offer undergraduates a number of exciting opportunities to apply to spend a semester or year abroad as part of a St Andrews degree programme. St Andrews is partnered with large and small institutions, ancient and young, across the globe. What unites all of our programmes is the quality of the academic provision, ensuring that participation in a St Andrews Study abroad programme opens the door to a new and valuable academic experience at another world-class institution. Study Abroad for credit is permitted on existing University-approved programmes only.

Student life

From the outset, the University of St Andrews offers an array of events and opportunities which result in a truly unique student experience. Students participate in a range of traditions, notably, the red academic gown and the academic family, where older students adopt first year students as ‘children’ and help guide them in a system of mentoring. These traditions and the choice of over 150 sports clubs and student societies to choose from ensures a community feel amongst students from first year onwards.

Students of Economics may be interested in joining the St Andrews Economic Society. This active society is run by students and holds regular career events, essay competitions and social occasions. The society also publishes The St Andrews Economist, a magazine covering current affairs, academic theory, economic policies, and trends.

The School of Economics and Finance is located in Castlecliffe on The Scores in a beautiful Edwardian mansion overlooking St Andrews Bay, next to the ruins of St Andrews Castle on the Fife coast.

The town of St Andrews itself has lots to offer. As the campus is located around town, walking around you encounter ancient and modern buildings and areas of greenery and seaside which provide a rich, beautiful backdrop to learning. If you want a change of scenery, St Andrews' position near surrounding towns and cities such as Anstruther, Dundee and Edinburgh make it ideal for getting to know more about Scotland.

“The School of Economics and Finance and its accessible staff have prepared me for my future career with hands-on economic modelling, policy debate, and theory derivation. My time as Captain of the Boat Club and Student Representative increased the sense of community that this small town engenders in its incredibly driven and vibrant students.”